Russell Lewis Johnson

 Russell Johnson, 95, a farmer, died Tuesday at Northern Pines nursing home with family by his side.

His memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, followed by a reception at the church. Private burial will take place in Crown Hill Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel of Cut Bank is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include daughter Nancy (Jerry) Woerdehoff of Great Falls; son Tom Johnson of Cut Bank; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Joanne; his parents; daughter, Dianna Clark; three sisters; daughter-in-law, Luana; son-in-law, Bill; a great-grandson; and special friend, Elaine Ackmann.

Russell was born December 13, 1929, in Deer Creek, Minnesota. He married Joanne Erickson on March 26, 1949. They moved to Cut Bank, where they farmed north of town for more than 75 years, most of it with his son Tom by his side.

He was a devoted member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He spent Friday nights at the Elks.

Russell was a hardworking and faithful farmer, who like so many in Cut Bank navigated the adversities of farming in the wind swept North Country that feeds the world. Russell’s dream was to be a farmer, it was in his bones. The gale force winds, biting cold, crop destroying hale, and droughts did not stop him. He knew well the sacrifices of his vocation and yet stubbornly went forward year after year with total trust and faithfulness that this was what the good Lord made him for…and boy, he did it well.